"Songs for the other half of the sky. With "Erkos" (1990-91) and "Galaxies" (1986-1996). Performed by Junko Ueda (satsuma biwa and voice) and Jean-Claude Eloy (sound projection). Erkos is a word from the Indo-European language and means song, praise. It is close to the Sanskrit word Arkas (hymn, chant, radiance) and to the Tokharien term Yarke (reverence, homage). The texts consist of extracts from the Devi-Upanishad and Devi-Mahatmya writings, in Sanskrit. Erkos was commissioned by the Cologne WDR, at the invitation of Karlheinz Stockhausen, in collaboration with the Institut Français de Cologne and was produced in its entirety in 1990-91 at the WDR Electronic Studio. "Galaxies" is an electroacoustic work composed of two large groups of elements, contrasting with each other in function, construction, etc. but still unified as they are born from the same sources of timbre and treatment: the Japanese Sho (traditionnal mouth organ) from which all of the work's sound material is taken, to which are added an ensemble of five Bonshos (temple bells from Japan and Korea)." (label info)